I had this week’s article already planned out until I got an email from one of the readers about how they were thinking that the idea of “mind over matter” and “positive thinking” were very nice and all, but she really couldn’t imagine being able to apply such concepts realistically in her life. She stated that she had been feeling depressed for some time and that she really was pretty much at the end of her rope and didn’t know what to do. When I read this letter I felt sad for her, that she has been and still is suffering so much from different problems, but I also felt glad in a way, because she had connected with the articles about mind over matter and positive thinking in the first place, which means she is already halfway there. I’m sure she doesn’t even know it yet, but indeed it is true. Perhaps since she wrote the email she has progressed even further, and gone on to apply one or two of the positive thinking concepts in her own life. It doesn’t really take much to be able to make this way your own. In fact it is quite simple indeed. It just sounds and feels difficult for some because they are so far away from doing that sort of thing that it seems totally alien to them. Really, every single person has it in them to act and react in just the way that I have been describing throughout this series. It just takes a little effort. Isn’t it worth it? I think it is!

Now, getting back to our mission, remember, we are changing the world one mind at a time. So you begin with yourself, and then through you the rest of the world will change. If you don’t believe me, just try it. But, remember, it is important to think positively about this, and to know for certain that indeed one single person can be the impetus for changing things in the entire world. What do you think about people like Moses, Jesus, and other prophets? Didn’t they change the world? What do you think about people like Mother Theresa, Gandhi, and all the other people who have done great good? Haven’t they made an impact on the entire world? They have! So, who says that you can’t do something for the world too?

Have you ever heard of the phrase “pay it forward”? This is a concept that began when a young, fictional boy in a story started what has become a worldwide movement. It means that you do a good deed for three different people. When they ask how they can pay you back, you simply say, don’t pay it back, you pay it forward by helping three more people. Thus, the initial three people helped would ideally go and help three more each, and the “helping” movement would spread out so far that it would include thousands, if not millions of people. That was what the story book boy had in mind. But, as life imitates art, a real-life movement has been initiated on behalf of the concept of paying it forward. The great thing is that the idea of paying it forward doesn’t have to mean that the good deed is something difficult, or something expensive, or even something time consuming. It can be as simple as a smile (although we should be giving those on a very regular basis). It can be helping someone carry their bags, or helping an elderly person cross the street, giving a young person important advice in a nice, caring way, giving money to a total stranger who looks like he (or she) might be hungry, giving someone a warm coat to wear on a cold day, giving someone a bottle of water (particularly here in Kuwait where the summers are scorching hot at up to 50 plus degrees centigrade), or a cold drink, some clean food, etc. Imagine how you would feel if your job was to clean the streets in the hot summer sun, and you were required to walk along the streets from the morning until the afternoon or God knows when, in order to pick up the papers and cans that some inconsiderate people threw out their window. You probably wouldn’t feel good at all. So, what can you do to “pay it forward”?

Well, first of all, each and every one of us needs to be extremely thankful that the person doing that job isn’t us. Then, we must think of nice ways to help these destitute people out. You know they are poor, live in very difficult conditions, and make practically nothing to send home to their families. So, why don’t we get them food that they can eat while they are outside, nice cold bottles of water, and even clothing, rather than give the clothing to the charity box. We can give them money as well, if we like, why not? In fact there is practically no end to what we can do for the street workers, as well as the construction workers, the road workers, and more. Also, no matter how small your income is, try to make sure that somehow, someway you are giving even the smallest smidgeon of it to the poor. No matter how small your salary seems to be, you can be sure of two things: that there are other people who make less than you do; and that you are a millionaire compared to some. If you keep that in mind, and also, at the same time, always remember to give a little bit to charity, you will find that your own wealth starts increasing and as long as you don’t count it all the time (except to make sure that the bank isn’t stealing it) will continue to do so.

I’m sure some people are reading this thinking what?” “What does giving in charity and not counting my money have to do with my anything???” “If I don’t count it I won’t know what I have!!!I” Well I will tell you what I like to do. I like to just ignore my money and leave it, give as generously as I can, and I always find myself with more money than I thought I had. Sometimes it’s less or more, but that’s alright. You see, it doesn’t really matter what the quantity is, because what is important is that you give something, no matter how small it seems. One of my favorite good deeds is to NOT throw papers and other trash in the street, but to carry them around with me, until I am able to find a proper trash receptacle. Another thing we can do is to pick up papers, cans, and things that other people throw down (if it is feasible) and throw them into proper trash receptacles. Just make sure that you are smiling when you do it.